Congressmen push to award Harlem Hellfighter posthumous Medal of Honor

The nation’s highest military award, the Medal of Honor, is reserved for soldiers who exhibit extreme valor in wartime efforts. However, for many years, minority soldiers, such as Sgt. Henry Johnson, have been denied the distinction.

Now, Congress is pushing to waive a law on the books that says too much time has passed for Johnson to posthumously receive the award.

The bill, introduced to the Senate by Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and its House companion bill brought by Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., seeks a one-time waiver of the “five-year rule” for Johnson’s posthumous award of the Medal.